74 Cities in 62 countries have committed to Earth Hour 2009. Nations are now seeing the global economic downturn as an opportunity to steer their economies toward safer sustainable futures. The campaign, which hopes to reach one billion people in 1 000 cities around the world, asks individuals , businesses and governments to switch off lights for just one hour on Saturday March 28 at 8.30pm - to create a platform of support for climate change.

Cities committed for Earth Hour include Moscow, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, London, Hong Kong, Sydney, Rome, Manila, Oslo, Cape Town, Warsaw, Lisbon, Singapore, Istanbul, Mexico City, Toronto, Dubai and Copenhagen.

Earth Hour 2009, will witness some of the most recognisable landmarks on the planet extinguish their lights in support of decisive action on global warming. Icons switching off include - the world’s tallest hotel building – the Burj Dubai; the tallest free standing structure in the Americas – the CN Tower in Toronto; Moscow’s Federation Tower; and in Rome – Quirinale – the Italian President’s official residence. In the southern hemisphere – its tallest tower Auckland’s Sky Tower will go dark, as will the iconic sails of the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and South Africa’s flood lit Table Mountain. 

Earth Hour sends your message to world leaders meeting in Copenhagen for the Conference on Climate Change in 2009. Executive Director of Earth Hour Global, Andy Ridley, said, “ 2009 is the year we decide the future of the earth. It is the year the world finally agrees on a plan to massively reduce carbon emissions across the globe. This is the time to invest in new ways of doing business in a new low carbon economy. We must all step over the line together. The sum of our actions today can change history and secure the future of our planet."

For more information, go to //www.earthhour.org

Indicate your support of this movement here by attending the event.YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE 

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming. 

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. 

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard. Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness. In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. 

VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday. We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations. 

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.